Egypt unveils hundreds of sarcophagi and bronze statues recently discovered
Egypt presents an impressive exhibition of artifacts recently uncovered in the famous Sakkara cemetery. These include 250 painted sarcophagi and 150 bronze statues of ancient gods.
The artifacts were shining under a tent at the foot of the famous step pyramid of pharaoh Djoser. They are estimated to be 2,500 years old.
The desert at Sakkara was used for thousands of years as a burial place for important people in ancient Egypt. The necropolis – with an area of approximately ten km² – is located about 30 kilometers south of Cairo.
The mummies found in the sarcophagi are still in good condition. The statues include Nephthys and Isis, the goddesses of death and fertility.
Imhotep, the architect behind Pharaoh Djoser’s pyramid complex, was depicted headless. As far as we know, his life’s work is the first building built entirely in stone.
The artifacts will now move to the Great Egyptian Museum, a prestige project still under construction next to the Giza Pyramids. By presenting archaeological finds, the country hopes to attract more tourists.
Visitor numbers saw a serious kink due to the unrest after the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 and, more recently, the corona vicissitudes. The war is now also keeping many Ukrainian and Russian tourists away.
